“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 7:17,21
Hebrews 6:20 tells us that Jesus became our “High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Who is Melchizedek?
Melchizedek, meaning “righteous king,” was a unique king-priest in ancient Jerusalem during the time of Abram (Genesis 14:18-21). He was also known as the king of Salem (Hebrews 7:2, “king of peace”). He was highly regarded, as seen in Genesis 14 when Abram returned victoriously from battle.
The first to meet Abram as he returned was the evil king of Sodom, who patiently waited for Melchizedek to offer Abram a blessing before making his request for the return of his people. The king’s yielding signified his uncommon respect for the priest.
Abram, who later became Abraham, also highly respected Melchizedek. This is illustrated by Abram accepting Melchizedek’s blessing and offering a tithe.
The writer of Hebrews provides a limited description of Melchizedek. His priesthood was not hereditary, as Levitical priests were, so how he became a priest is unknown. Hebrews 7:3 seems to indicate that he had no known parents. Someone obviously gave birth to him; therefore, the phrase “without father, without mother, without genealogy” simply means there is no record of his birth or death; hence the phrase “the order [or lack thereof; i.e., the family history] of Melchizedek.”
Even so, his priesthood somehow became superior to the Levitical lineage.
Hebrews 7:3 goes on to say, “Having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.” Because of this Scripture, Melchizedek is often portrayed as an example or forerunner of Christ. Some even maintain that he was a pre-incarnate Christ, but this is not so.
The Bible does not tell us about Melchizedek’s family upbringing or who influenced him. Nevertheless, it is clear he was an extraordinary man. That he “remains a priest continually” does not refer to an eternal state. It also does not refer to Melchizedek as a forerunner of Christ, but someone similar to Him, in that his priesthood service was universal in terms of extraordinary royalty, peace, righteousness, and perpetuity.
How else does Melchizedek relate to Jesus?
The remainder of Hebrews 7 describes how Jesus is our true High Priest and king-priest, one higher than Melchizedek.
“For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens, who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” (v26-27)
Whenever we see Melchizedek’s name and how Jesus is “according to his order,” it simply describes Melchizedek’s priestly longevity and its similarity to the ever-continual nature of Jesus’ supremacy, royalty, power, and holiness.
Jesus and Melchizedek possessed similar godly qualities. But only Jesus’ eternally gracious, loving, and merciful nature will truly last forever.
